Car-coupling.



L. ,l5/MATER,

P'ATEN'TBD 00T. 30, 1906.

l No. 834,833.

GAR CO'UPLING. iAPPLIUiATION FAILED JULY 24, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wim gs'sesl I jecting the pivot-pin to any UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

LEWIS P. MATHER, or PITsBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.'

v `cAFx-oouPtnvG. y

To all w/torrt 111; 'nto/y co'tcern: Beit known that I, LEwIs l?. MATnEIt, a

i resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Alle.- ghenyl and Stato otlennsylvama, have 1nvented anew'arul useful Improvement in (lar- (louplingsg'aml, l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip' Iheld in a central position whenever the cars are uncoupled.

Thelaboveobjeets are accomplished by a4 i peculiar construction and arrangement of'details, which will bemore fully described hereinai'ter, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings, in which- Li e symbols herein always represent the same de tails in the drawings regardless yto what figures or views they may appear.

Figure 1 is a top elevation of my improved car-coupler with some of the connecting parts shown 1n section, Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthev coupler and showing some of the parts .in section.. Fig.`3 is -a cross-section of the coupler on-bthe line 3 3, Fig. 2l Figs. 4, 5,

and 6 are enlarged -views of details of the 4 coupler..y Fig'. 7 isl a'like' section such as is shown in Fig. 3 for'showing another modification of the device. .I

\ The draft-sills L .are shown to be composed of rolled .channel-bars and are arranged in the usual way by connecting the end sill 2 with the body-boister. (Not shown.)

The' draft-lugs 3 3" are shown to be of a casting and are securely attached to the draft-sills 1, while the followers 4 4 rest against these draft-lugs from the inside and are held in place bythe draft-rigging in thc usual way. v

The draw-bar yoke 6 and the coupler 7 are also located and arranged in the usual'way,

with the exception that these two details are not united together, but are cormectedwith -aclrother by means oi" a pivot S. 'lheyoke Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led July 24, i905. Serial No. 270,947.

l Patented Oct. 30, 1906.

6 is prevented from moving laterallyby the draft-lugs 3, while the end sill 2 is cut out, as at 2', so as to allow lateral freedom for the coupler `7 to swing whenever the cars pass curves. The yoke 6 in order to prevent the pivot-pin 8 from being sheared off whenever the coupler' is under tension isoffset 'at the end, so as to form, aI shoulder 8, against sis which a similar shoulder 7 on 'the coupler abuts. 'lhere are'two such pairs of shoulders, one at the topahd one at the bottom, as

shown in F ig. 2, and in order not to interfere with the swinging of the-coupler the Shoulders 8 on the inside have been made concave and the shoulders 7 convex, while both being curved to the same radius and struck from the center of the pivot-pin 8. rIhis arrangement will also enable us to obtain a maximum amount of bearing-surface between the yoke 6 and the coupler 7 no matter what po Sition the latter may be in. The ivot-pin 8 is there simply to prevent the yo e 6 from spreading, but is not subjected in any way to t e forces coming upon the coupler 7, as the latter when under compressionitransmits the strains directly to the ront follower-platefl, 'against which it abuts, while the tensile l strains are taken care of by the shoulders 8/l and 7 as explained above.

To understand the working of the whole device better, itmay be mentioned that under compression the rear follower 4l seats against the rear draft-lugs 3', and the follower 4 with the yoke 6 and the coupler 7 `move inward under tension, while the front follower 4 seats against the front draft-lugs 3, and the coupler, yoke,l and rear follower move outwar lTo make an automatic cou ling between cars possible, it is necessary to` old the coupler 7 in a central position, and to do this and still allow the same to swing laterally when under strains a yielding and double-acting resistance element has been placed lin the coupler draw-bar or shank 7, as shown at-9, and this device consists Yof a spring 10, two spring-sockets 1l 1l', and two cheek-plates l2. These cheek-plates A1.2 are prevented from moving laterally either by being attached to the yoke 6 or to the d raft-sills l, shown in Fig. 7. lugs 3 have been swelled out toward the center line ofi the car, so as to forni flat and sta-l tionary cheek-plates 3 forthe spring-sock-` In this last case the draft-` ets 11 to abut against, and since the coupler 7 and these sockets move lengthwise it is necessary to make these cheek-plates 3 long enough so as to form a bearing even if the spring-sockets are in the extreme front or rear positions. Instead of extending the draft-lugs 3 to form such cheek-plates seperate castings or forgings can be employed. The preferred form of forming these cheekplates is shown in Fig. 3, in which case the two cheek-plates 12 are formed by a single castingl or forging of an inverted-U shape and forming what may be called a "fork 13. This fork 13 is secured to an extension 6 of one of lthe lugs of yoke 6 by bolts 6 and to relieve these bolts of any shearing strains brought about by the coupler 7 swinging to one side or the other lips 12 have been employed on the fork to embrace said yoke extension 6 on each side. To strengthen the fork 13 itself and to exclude any possibility of its breaking, ribs 13 and 13 have been added, and the yoke extension 6 has been cut short, so to be able to increase the thickness of the material, of the fork at the top for a certain distance at least, as shown at 12, and this will act as a substantial brace across the top of the fork 13 and will still more strengthen the same. lnstead of making the fork aV separate piece. and fastening the same to'the yoke 6 it. might be made integral with theyoke without affectving the proper working of the. device in the least, and in either case the fork will travel lengthwise with the yoke and coupler 7, thus being always oppositctlle spring-pockets l 1. This will obvntte the necessity of long cheekplates, as shown at 3, and will also do away with relative lengthwise movement between the spring-pockets 1l and the cheek-plates l2, while this in turn will prevent the colisequent wear resulting from such a movement.

The spring-sockets 11 l1 consist ol' a cylindrical shell 1l, a bottom 11" at one end, and segments 11 of an outside collar at the other end, which segments simply form lugs and the number of which can be varied at will, although four are provided for in ltig. 4 of the drawings.

The coupler 7 is cored out at 7, so as to receive the spring-sockets 11, and such cylindrical cores 7 are arranged to suit the cylindrical s'hells 11, while the lugs 1ld shoulder from the insidcagainstthe collars 14 and 14', formed within said coupler, collar l-t being continuous and collar 14 being notched out in four places, as at 14, which notches are made wide enough to allow the lugs 11"l to pass whenever tl" spring-soclwts are being inserted into the coupler-shank.

lt is obvious that one. socket ll has to be inserted irst., spring 1t) following, after,l

which the other socket l l with the. lug end foremost is entered, while the lugs 1l will l pass through the notches or slots 14, and in order to prevent the sockets from leavin they are rotated so that the lugs 11 wil coine approximately half-way between the two adjoining notches or slots 14. It is desirable that the spring with the two sockets 11 11 in place is slightly compressed, and it is self-eyident that the number of slots 14 must correspond with the number of lugs 11.

To prevent the socket 11 from turning in service, which would allow the lugs 11 to come opposite the slots 14 and the socket to leave its place, two guides 15 have been shown on the o positie sides of two adjoining slots 14 with tl'ie function of holding one lug 11a in place., which in turn will prevent any circular or turning motion of the said socket 11.

It will presentlybe shown that either one of the sockets 11 11 will be forced inwardly by thel cheek-plates 12 whenever the cou ler 7 swings laterally, which means that the ugs 11, leave their respective collars 14 and 14', and to prevent a gradual turning-movement of the one socket 1l', held by the guides 15 during a succession of such movements, such guides are provided with inclined surfaces 15 on the inside, which will bring the lug 11 between them back into the proper position every time the said socket 11 returns'to rest against the collar 14. such an arrangement the spring 10 is doubleaeting-i. e., no matter which side of the coupler 7 is being forced to swing the tendency of the spring will bring it back as soon as the coupler is free to do so, the springsockets 11 thereby acting as followers and l'ree to move inwardly, but prevented from nioving outwardly. For instance, if the coupler swings to the left s ring-socket 11 will be forced inward and tie s ring compressed, while the socket 11 wil be taken along by the coupler, leaving the cheekplates 12 and 3", all as shown on Figs. 3 and 7, and if the coupler swings to the right the function of each detail will just be reversed.

The amount of lateral travel to bc allowed to the coupler 7 can easily be governed by the width of the openirw l in the end sill` A great many minor changes can be made in the details just described without affecting the principles of my invention, and therefore l do not wish to limit the same to the forms shown.

What, l claim is-vl. ln a car-coupling, the combination of a swinging coupler` a draw-bar yoke. an e.\'- tensionon said yoke for forming a laterallylixed point to bring said coupler into its central position.

L. ln a car-coupling, the combination of a coupler, a draw-bar yoke` an extension on said yoke, and cheek- )lates on said extension for forming stops to )ring said coupler into its central position.

3. lnr a car-coupling, the combination of a i o ICO IlO

It is clear that by 4o i coupler, a spring, a spring-socket within the cou ler, a draw-bar yoke, van extension on sai yoke,'and cheek-plates onsaid extension for forniingstops for a yielding attachmentto bring said coupling into its central position. W

4.A In a car-coiipling, the combination of a I swinging cou )ler having a! Ashank or draw-bar, and a` la-terallydisp(ised s ring element con'- iie'cted to andy extending t irough the walls of thedrawsbar of saidfspring-coi`i ler for the centering of said shank or drawar.

5. Ina car-coupling, the combination of a coupler7 laterally-hired cheek-plates, and a ,lateralbf-disposed yielding element inclosed "within and extending through the Shank of saidcoupler for bringing the coupler into its central-Y' position pressing against said 6. lIn a? car-coiipling, the combination of a coupler,` a spring, and a'vlaterally-disposed raw-bar:fonconiining said spring and for acting as a follower thereto inthe centering of ESaid shank or draw-bar.

extendingl through the lwa'll's of said coupler shank or dra'wfbar, and va laterally-disposed 's ring-follower inclos'edwithin the shank or raw-'b arjof saidwcouplerfor confining said spring inthe centeri of ysaid shank or draw- -bar.

8l In a car-coupling, the combination of a i couplerz'aspringfa ys ring-socket within the shank vor draw-bar o the coupler for confining rsaidspring and'for acting as al follower in the centering of said shank or draw-bar, and means on said spring for engaging with said shankto hold the socket in place.

` -9. In a car-coupling, the combination of a shankior draw-bar of said coupler for confining said spring and for acting as a follower in the centering of saidshank or draw-bar, and

means en said socket and shank to hold said 10. vIn a vcar-coupling, the combination of a coupler,`a Spring, a spring-socket within the shank `ordraw-bar of said coupler for coniiiiing said spring and for acting as a follower in the centering of said shank or draw-bar, and lugs on said vsocket tor enga ing with said shank tor hold said socket in p ace.

` a collar Within said shank or draw-bar to 11.I Ina car-couplingr the combination of a swinging con ler having a Ashank or draw-bar,"

a rinf wit in and extending throu fh the wa s o the coupler shank or drawar, a spring-follower within the 'shank' .or draw-bar of said coupler for confining Said snring in the centering of said shank or draw-lian' and hold saifd folldwer in place.

lf2. In a.iiai ';oupliiig, the vcombination of a swinging coupler, a spring Within and exi tending through vthe coupler-shank, a spring- 7. In a cara-coupling, the combination of a' coupler having a shank or draw-bar, a spring follower within the shank of said coupler for confining said spring, and a notched collar Within said shank for permitting the insertion of said follower within the shank andfor holding the saine in place. I

13. In a carcoupling, the combination of a Iswinging coupler, a spring within and lextending thioiigh the coupler-shank, a springiollower within the shank or draw-bar. ofsaid coupler for coniinin said spring in the 'centering of saidI shan for' ,draw-bar, a collar within said shankfpandlugs onsaidfollower for engaging'with saidfcollar to liold said fol7 i lower in place.

14. In a car-coupling, the combination oa swinging coupler, a spring within and ex?V tending through the coiiplerfshank, aspring- `follower within the shank of saidv coupler for vconfining said spring, a notohedlcollarwithin said shank, and lugs on saidfoll'ower forperinitting the insertion of 'said followerwithin the shank and yforholding the same in place.

1.5. In a car-coupling, thecoiiibinationof; a swingingcoupler, a spring withinand ex-y tending through tlie c ouplerfshank, a springfollower within the shank ofsaid lcoupler for confining said spring, and a collar within for engaging withsaid followento h old the saine in' place.l

16. Ina'` car-coupling, the lcombination off .a swinging cou iler, a spring `'within and extending throng the Cormier-shankJ as ringfollo'wer within the shank of said coup er for coniining said spiin and a collarlwithin said shank and provi ed 'with inclined guides for engaging with the followert'o hold the saine in place. y

17. In a car-coupling7 the combination-of a swinging coupler, a Spring within. and extending through the coupler-shank, a springfollower within theshank of said coupler for .said shank and provided with guides therein IOO confining said sEring, lugs on saidiollower,

and a collar wit in said shankand provided with guides therein for engaging withgsaid..

lugs to hold the follower in place.

1S. In a carcoiipling7 the combination of.

IIO.

a swinging coupler, a spring withinand eX-' tending through the couplerfshank, a springfollower within the shank of said coupler for confining said s ring7 lugs on saidfollower, and a collar 'wit iin said shank and provided with inclined guides therein for engaging with said lugs to hold the follower in place.

` 19. Afcaicoiipler7 the eon'ibination of a draw-bar, and circular followers for confining said spring.

21. In a car-coupling, the combination of a upler, a laterally-disposed spring within the shank of said coupler, circular followers for confining said spring, and laterally-fixed cheek-pla tes for engaging with said followers.

"22. ln a car-coupling, the combination of a coupler, a laterally-disposed spring incased within the shank of said coupler, circular followers for confining said springI and latcrallyfixed cheek-plates for engaging lwith said followers.

23. ln a car-coupling, the combination of a coupler, a laterally-disposed spring element within said coupler, and cheek-plates engag# ing with said spring element for formin' stops to bring said coupler into its centra position.

24. fln a car-coupling, the combination of a coupler7 a draw-bar yoke, a laterally-disposed sprin element Within said coupler, and cheelvplgates on said yoke engaging with said element for forming stops to bring said coupler into its central position. i

25. In a car-coupling, the combination of a coupler, a draw-bar yoke, a laterally-disposed spring within said coupler, springsockets for said spring, and cheek-plates on said yoke engaging with said sockets for forming stops to bring said coupler into it central position.

26. In a car-coupling, the combination of a coupler, a draw-bar yoke, a laterally-disposed spring witliin said coupler, sp1-,ngsockets for saidI spring, means on said sockets and coupler to hold Said sockets in place, and cheek-plates on said yoke engaging with said sockets for forming stops to bring said coupler into its central position.

In testimony whereof I, the said LEWIS P. MATHER, have hereunto set my hand.

y LEWIS P MIATHER. Witnesses:

J. N. Cookin, R. H. AXTHELM-- 

